Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

We're missing the "conflict of interest" because you are abusing the meaning of the term.

What you describe is simply a bias.

Conflict of interest would be if I take money from parties A and B. Party A pays me to give a professional opinion about which nutritional supplement to take, which frontend javascript framework to use, etc. Party B pays me to endorse their special Snake Oil Pills and Ointment or React or something else. I take Party B's money and make those endorsements to Party A without their knowledge and without any actual consideration of what is truly best for Party A. There is a conflict of my interests in Parties A and B.

Your definition is excessively broad and could be used to suggest, e.g., that Nike has a conflict of interest because it is their opinion that you should purchase their shoes.




> e.g., that Nike has a conflict of interest because it is their opinion that you should purchase their shoes.

It's even worse: that Nike has a conflict of interest because they think that wearing shoes while running is good, even though it would be extremely weird if a running shoe company thought that running with shoes is bad.

Remove the business from the equation and the opinion is fine — it's the existence of a business that aligns with the opinion that creates the conflict! Galaxy brain definition.




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: